Nearly twenty years ago now, I found myself sitting on the platform of the Annual General Meeting of the League of Friends. I was the only one in the leadership without a national honour and at I felt a sense of being out of my comfort zone of my knowledge and experience. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I also was notable as one of the very few men in the room, and one of the very few under 60. I found myself as Chief Executive of the long established National body for the Friends Group UK wide. At that point, the body, originally incorporated in 1949 as the National Association of Leagues of Hospital Friends (and became Attend in 2006), had some 760 member groups.
The Hon. Lord Fraser QC, the President for over 20 years, opened by commenting that he had been reflecting on the work of the Leagues of Friends and he could see two distinct but inter-linked threads, which unite many of our groups and contribute to their success: formidable women, and a deep-rooted love of the community. My heart almost stopped: how would the room receive it? I needn’t have worried. Our President knew his audience; there was a slight but discernible intake of breath, followed by a general nodding of heads, and a comfortable resettling in their chairs. The contribution of the leadership of the movement in local communities had been both suitably recognised and acknowledged.
And where did all this community activity start? Friends Groups can justly claim to be the descendants of medieval times, and the work of the monastic orders. However, much of the current way of working owes its roots to the 1834 Poor Law reforms.
However, as early as 1746, Bishop Maddox, who founded the Infirmary at Worcester, highlighted the need for ‘comforts’ for patients
Few cures are brought about by drugs alone. Proper food, due regime, necessary attendance, and above all ease and tranquillity of mind, have a large share in recovery.Bishop Maddox 1746
Year on year, I never fail to be astonished by the contribution that these groups continue to make to this mission of raising funds, and voluntary activity to support patients, and their relatives.
I am delighted that these stories have been recognised by the Heritage Lottery Community Fund, and we can begin to record them for future generations.